3. Neymar Jr. ($36 million)
Currently playing for the Barcelona, Neymar is not only the highest paid, but also one of the richest soccer players in the world. Most of his wealth comes from endorsement deals.
The club is only paying him $14 million per year. That is $10 million less than Gareth Bale on 4th rank. The rest, almost doubled his salary, are from his sponsors like Nike, Volkswagen, Castrol, Panasonic, L’Oreal, Clear, and Rexona.
So, what makes them so interested in Neymar?
He is more than just a soccer player. He has his own force in the markets through his charisma. And he is arguably the most marketable athlete in the world based on his market potential.
Neymar has also been involved in music industry. He even performed on stage as a guest appearance. You can check out his action on MC Guime’s rap music video, Pais do Futebol.
